Final Home Meet a Loss For Swimming

An up-and-down season ended on a sour note Friday when the Columbia women's swimming and diving team lost to Princeton 170.5-129.5. The defending Ivy League champions won the first event of the meet and never looked back despite efforts from Light Blue swimmers that kept the meet close through the first half, when the Lions trailed 80.5-69.5.

The meet started on the diving boards, where Princeton has great depth. Columbia sophomore Shannon Hosey, who last month qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, took second place in both the one- and three-meter diving events. Princeton's Katie Giarra placed first in both, setting a Uris Pool record in the three-meter with a score of 316.50.

Columbia's relay teams kept the score close by winning both the 200-yard medley and 100-yard freestyle relays. The Lions appeared to gain some momentum midway through the meet, when they took first and second in both the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard freestyle. But the Tigers took control in the second half, winning six of the last nine events and 11 of 17 overall.

With the loss, the Lions (6-4, 3-4 Ivy) finish the season with a losing record against other Ivy opponents. It was also the first home loss of the dual-meet season for Columbia, who had won their previous three contests at home. The meet marked the final swim at Uris Pool for the Lion's seven seniors, Kaki Dudley, Sarah Fisher, Kelly McConnell, Mary McCue, Lauren Morford, April Nizlek, and Kathryn Taylor.

Despite the result, head coach Diana Caskey was happy with the performances she received from her veteran swimmers.

"It was a great meet for our seniors," Caskey said. "They had a lot of fast swims and demonstrated a lot of spirit and enthusiasm. It is a testament to their leadership that the team has as much camaraderie as it does."

The final test will come next week when the Lions travel to Princeton for the Ivy League Championships on February 15-17. While the loss at home to Princeton was disappointing, Caskey will look to the team's other successes in the second half of the season. The Lions won four of their final five meets, including recent road victories at Cornell and Brown. "Having two impressive meets behind us heading into Championships creates good momentum and racing confidence," Caskey said.

The importance of senior leadership was also stressed by freshman Delghi Urubshurow, who is excited to compete in her first Ivy League Championships.

"It's going to be a fast meet, but our team is very supportive of each other and is doing everything we can to get ready," Urubshurow said. "Being with a team that is positive and supportive creates a good atmosphere for training and doing well. I love the team; they are a great bunch of girls who always try their best."